Six wave and four tidal schemes in Scotland announced

The Crown Estate has announced that six wave and four tidal schemes in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters will generate up to 1.2GW of marine energy.

The project agreements follow the world's first commercial wave and tidal leasing round.

The schemes range from 50MW to 200MW - to deliver a total capacity capable of powering up to 700,000 homes and estimated capital investment in the region of £3-£4 billion by 2020.

The location and maximum capacity of the agreed wave projects are Costa Head, 200MW, Brough Head, 200MW, Marwick Head, 50MW, West Orkney South, 50MW, West Orkney Middle South, 50MW and Armadale, Pelamis Wave Power Ltd, 50MW.

The tidal project location and maximum capacity are Westray South, 200MW, Cantick Head, 200MW, Brough Ness, 100MW and Ness of Duncansby, 100MW.

With more than seven Gigawatts of renewables capacity already installed, under construction or consented around the country, Scotland is on track to surpass its target of meeting 31 per cent of electricity demand from renewable energy by 2011 - a step towards achieving the 2020 of 50 per cent.

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 introduced legally-binding targets for Scotland to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 42 per cent and 80 per cent by 2020 and 2050 respectively.

Together with carbon capture, energy efficiency and carbon reduction in transport and land use, renewable energy generation is key to meeting those targets.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Leading international energy companies and innovators continue to be drawn to Scottish waters, which boast as much as a quarter of Europe's tidal and offshore wind resource and a tenth of the continent's potential wave capacity."

"The Scottish Government is working with The Crown Estate, developers and key partners to support this rapidly-growing industry, to ensure communities such as those in Caithness and Orkney are well-placed to reap the benefits."

Further information:
The Scottish Government